The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams. Scene 4 &5.
This scene begins with Tom returning from his movie, drunk of course. Laura is there to greet him. One of the most important symbols of the play is revealed within this sub-scene. Tom recalls a magician who preformed a trick where he escaped a coffin without removing any nails. Tom relates the coffin to the family, perhaps more specifically his mother. Tom says "There is a trick that would come in handy for me --- get me out of this 2 by 4 situation! (Williams, 1249)" This can be tied back to the father of the family who left them. Tom almost admires his father for being able to get out unscathed. We even learn that Tom has a plan to get out of the family. He has a letter from the Merchant Marines and is lined up to join. Amanda creates one stipulation for him. He can only leave after they find some gentleman caller for Laura.
Tom, anxious to get away from his mother as soon as possible, tries finding gentlemen callers for Laura. Tom plans on lining up Mr. John D. O'Connor as a gentleman caller for Laura. Tom, while discussing with Amanda his set up for Laura, reveals that Laura lives in her imagination with her glass figurines, a visual image of her own fragility as a person and emotionally. This is a very important note when regarding Laura.
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